5-benzyl-octahydroindole and 6-benzyl-decahydroquinoline NMDA/NR2B antagonists

ABSTRACT

Novel 5-benzyl-octahydroindoles and 6-benzyl-decahydroquinolines substituted in the 1-position are effective as NMDA NR2B antagonists useful for relieving pain.

This application claim the benefit of provisional application No. 60/162,715, filed Oct. 29, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to novel 5-benzyl-octahydroindoles and 6-benzyl-decahydroquinolines. In particular, this invention relates to novel 5-benzyl-octahydroindoles and 6-benzyl-decahydroquinolines substituted in the 1-position that are effective as NMDA NR2B antagonists useful for relieving pain.

Ions such as glutamate play a key role in processes related to chronic pain and pain-associated neurotoxicity—primarily by acting through N-methyl-D-aspartate (“NMDA”) receptors. Thus, inhibition of such action—by employing ion channel antagonists, particularly NMDA antagonists—can be beneficial in the treatment and control of pain.

Known NMDA antagonists include ketamine, dextromophan, and 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (“CPP”). Although these compounds have been reported (J. D. Kristensen, et al., Pain, 51:249-253 (1992); K. Eide, et al., Pain, 61:221-228 (1995); D. J. Knox, et al., Anaesth. Intensive Care 23:620-622 (1995); and M. B. Max, et al., Clin. Neuropharmacol. 18:360-368 (1995)) to produce symptomatic relief in a number of neuropathies including postherpetic neuralgia, central pain from spinal cord injury, and phantom limb pain, widespread use of these compounds is precluded by their undesirable side effects. Such side effects at analgesic doses include psychotomimetic effects such as dizziness, headache, hallucinations, dysphoria, and disturbances of cognitive and motor function. Additionally, more severe hallucinations, sedation, and ataxia are produced at doses only marginally higher than analgesic doses. Thus, it would be desirable to provide novel NMDA antagonists that are absent of undesirable side effects or that produces fewer and/or milder side effects.

NMDA receptors are heteromeric assemblies of subunits, of which two major subunit families designated NR1 and NR2 have been cloned. Without being bound by theory, it is generally believed that the various functional NMDA receptors in the mammalian central nervous system (“CNS”) are only formed by combinations of NR1 and NR2 subunits, which respectively express glycine and glutamate recognition sites. The NR2 subunit family is in turn divided into four individual subunit types: NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, and NR2D. I. Ishii, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:2836-2843 (1993), A. Wenel, et al., Neural Report, 7:45-48 (1995), and D. J. Laurie et al., Mol. Brain Res., 51:23-32 (1997) describe how the various resulting combinations produce a variety of NMDA receptors differing in physiological and pharmacological properties such as ion gating properties, magnesium sensitivity, pharmacological profile, as well as in anatomical distribution.

For example, while NR1 is found throughout the brain, NR2 subunits are differentially distributed. In particular, it is believed that the distribution map for NR2B lowers the probability of side effects while producing pain relief. For example, S. Boyce, et al., Neuropharmacology, 38:611-623(1999) describes the effect of selective NMDA NR2B antagonists on pain with reduced side-effects. Thus, it would be desirable to provide novel NMDA antagonists that target the NR2B receptor.

International Patent Publication WO94/21615 describes benzimidazole-piperidine compounds utilized as dopamine D4 antagonists. Phenol compounds described as NMDA antagonists are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,306,723 and 5,436,255, and in International Patent Publications WO91/17156, WO92/19502, WO93/02052, WO94/29571, WO95/28057, WO96/37226, and EP 04422506. Benzyl piperidines substituted with phenols or imidazoles are described in Z.-L. Zhou, et al., J. Medicinal Chemistry, 42:2993-3000(1999); T. F. Gregory, et al., Poster #94, 218^(th) National Meeting American Chemical Society, New Orleans, La., Aug. 22-26, 1999. Other NMDA NR2B selective compounds are described in European Patent Publication EP 787493 and British J. Pharmacol., 123:463(1998). However, there continues to be a need for novel NMDA antagonists that target the NR2B receptor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to 5-benzyl-octahydroindoles and 6-benzyl-decahydroquinolines substituted in the 1-position with benzimnidazoles, imidazopyridines, phenols or imidazoles either directly or through a C₁-C₄alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxy or amninoalkyl chain. The present invention also forms novel pharmaceutical compositions utilizing these novel compounds. Further, this invention includes novel methods to treat pain by utilizing the novel compounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the compounds of this invention are represented by Formula (I):

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein

R₁₁ is 2-benzimidazole, 4-imidazole, 2-imidazopyridine, 2-indole, 2-quinazoline, or 4-phenol; each optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy;

L₁₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl;

L₁₂-R₁₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and

optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₁, wherein X₁ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamnino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, ester, carbamate, carbonate, or ether.

In an embodiment, the compound of the invention is represented by Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein

R₁₁ is 2-benzimidazole, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy;

L₁₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl;

L₁₂-R₁₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and

optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₁, wherein X₁ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, ester, carbamate, carbonate, or ether.

In another embodiment, the compound of the, invention is represented by Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein

R₁₁ is 4-imidazole, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy;

L₁₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl;

L₁₂-R₁₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and

optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₁, wherein X₁ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, ester, carbamate, carbonate, or ether.

In still another embodiment, the compound of the invention is represented by Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein

R₁₁ is 4-phenol; optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy;

L₁₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl;

L₁₂-R₁₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and

optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₁, wherein X₁ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, ester, carbamate, carbonate, or ether.

In another aspect, the compounds of this invention are represented by Formula (II):

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein

R₂₁ is 2-benzimidazole, 4-imidazole, 2-imidazopyridine, 2-indole, 2-quinazoline, or 4-phenol; each optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy;

L₂₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl;

L₂₂-R₂₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and

optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₂, wherein X₂ is hydroxy, amino, C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, ester, carbamate, carbonate, or ether.

In an embodiment, the compound of this invention is represented by Formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

R₂₁ is 2-benzimidazole, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy;

L₂₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl;

L₂₂-R₂₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and

optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₂, wherein X₂ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, ester, carbamate, carbonate, or ether.

As used herein, “alkyl” as well as other groups having the prefix “alk” such as, for example, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and the like, means carbon chains which may be linear or branched or combinations thereof. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec- and tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl and the like. “Alkenyl”, “alkynyl” and other like terms include carbon chains containing at least one unsaturated C—C bond.

The term “cycloalkyl” means carbocycles containing no heteroatoms, and includes mono-, bi- and tricyclic saturated carbocycles, as well as fused ring systems. Such fused ring systems can include one ring that is partially or fully unsaturated such as a benzene ring to form fused ring systems such as benzofused carbocycles. Cycloalkyl includes such fused ring systems as spirofused ring systems. Examples of cycloalkyl include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, decahydronaphthalene, adamantane, indanyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphalene and the like. Similarly, “cycloalkenyl” means carbocycles containing no heteroatoms and at least one non-aromatic C—C double bond, and include mono-, bi- and tricyclic partially saturated carbocycles, as well as benzofused cycloalkenes. Examples of cycloalkenyl include cyclohexenyl, indenyl, and the like.

Unless otherwise stated, the terms “carbonyl” and “aminocarbonyl” include short C₁-C₂ termini. The terms include, for example, —CH₂CONH—, —CH₂CO—, —C₂H₄CONHCH₂—, and —CH₂COC₂H₄—.

Unless otherwise stated, the term “carbamate” is used to include —OCOOC₁-C₄alkyl, —NHCOOC₁-C₄alkyl, and —OCONHC₁-C₄alkyl.

The term “halogen” includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.

The term “SEM” is used to describe —CH₂—O—CH₂CH₂—Si(CH₃)₃.

The term “C₀” means that the carbon is not present. Thus, “C₀-C₅” means that there are from none to five carbons present—that is, five, four, three, two, one, or no carbons present.

The term “optionally substituted” is intended to include both substituted and unsubstituted. Thus, for example, optionally substituted aryl could represent a pentafluorophenyl or a phenyl ring.

Compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to diastereomers and optical isomers. The present invention includes all such possible diastereomers as well as their racemic mixtures, their substantially pure resolved enantiomers, all possible geometric isomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The above Formula I and Formula II are shown without a definitive stereochemistry at certain positions. The present invention includes all stereoisomers of Formula I and Formula II or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Further, mixtures of stereoisomers as well as isolated specific stereoisomers are also included. During the course of the synthetic procedures used to prepare such compounds, or in using racemization or epimerization procedures known to those skilled in the art, the products of such procedures can be a mixture of stereoisomers.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases or acids. When the compound of the present invention is acidic, its corresponding salt can be conveniently prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases, including inorganic bases and organic bases. Salts derived from such inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper (ic and ous), ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganese (ic and ous), potassium, sodium, zinc and the like salts. Particularly preferred are the ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium salts. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, as well as cyclic amines and substituted amines such as naturally occurring and synthesized substituted amines. Other pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases from which salts can be formed include ion exchange resins such as, for example, arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylarnine, tromethamine and the like.

When the compound of the present invention is basic, its corresponding salt can be conveniently prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids, including inorganic and organic acids. Such acids include, for example, acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like. Particularly preferred are citric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, maleic, phosphoric, sulfuric, and tartaric acids.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a compound represented by Formula I or Formula II (or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof) as an active ingredient, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally other therapeutic ingredients or adjuvants. The compositions include compositions suitable for oral, rectal, topical, and parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous) administration, although the most suitable route in any given case will depend on the particular host, and nature and severity of the conditions for which the active ingredient is being administered. The pharmaceutical compositions may be conveniently presented in unit dosage form and prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy.

In practice, the compounds represented by Formula I or Formula II, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, of this invention can be combined as the active ingredient in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques. The carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration, e.g., oral or parenteral (including intravenous). Thus, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be presented as discrete units suitable for oral administration such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient. Further, the compositions can be presented as a powder, as granules, as a solution, as a suspension in an aqueous liquid, as a non-aqueous liquid, as an oil-in-water emulsion or as a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. In addition to the common dosage forms set out above, the compound represented by Formula I or Formula II, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, may also be administered by controlled release means and/or delivery devices. The compositions may be prepared by any of the methods of pharmacy. In general, such methods include a step of bringing into association the active ingredient with the carrier that constitutes one or more necessary ingredients. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both. The product can then be conveniently shaped into the desired presentation.

Thus, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of Formula I or Formula II The compounds of Formula I or Formula II, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, can also be included in pharmaceutical compositions in combination with one or more other therapeutically active compounds.

The pharmaceutical carrier employed can be, for example, a solid, liquid, or gas. Examples of solid carriers include lactose, terra alba, sucrose, talc, gelatin, agar, pectin, acacia, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid. Examples of liquid carriers are sugar syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, and water. Examples of gaseous carriers include carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

In preparing the compositions for oral dosage form, any convenient pharmaceutical media may be employed. For example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the like may be used to form oral liquid preparations such as suspensions, elixirs and solutions; while carriers such as starches, sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents, and the like may be used to form oral solid preparations such as powders, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease of administration, tablets and capsules are the preferred oral dosage units whereby solid pharmaceutical carriers are employed. Optionally, tablets may be coated by standard aqueous or nonaqueous techniques.

A tablet containing the composition of this invention may be prepared by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients or adjuvants. Compressed tablets may be prepared by cornpressing, in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. Each tablet preferably contains from about 1 mg to about 500 mg of the active ingredient and each cachet or capsule preferably containing from about 1 to about 500 mg of the active ingredient.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention suitable for parenteral administration may be prepared as solutions or suspensions of the active compounds in water. A suitable surfactant can be included such as, for example, hydroxypropylcellulose. Dispersions can also be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof in oils. Further, a preservative can be included to prevent the detrimental growth of microorganisms.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions. Furthermore, the compositions can be in the form of sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of such sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. In all cases, the final injectable form must be sterile and must be effectively fluid for easy syringability. The pharmaceutical compositions must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage; thus, preferably should be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (e.g. glycerol, propylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol), vegetable oils, and suitable mixtures thereof.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be in a form suitable for topical use such as, for example, an aerosol, cream, ointment, lotion, dusting powder, or the like. Further, the compositions can be in a form suitable for use in transdermal devices. These formulations may be prepared, utilizing a compound represented by Formula I or Formula II of this invention, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, via conventional processing methods. As an example, a cream or ointment is prepared by mixing hydrophilic material and water, together with about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the compound, to produce a cream or ointment having a desired consistency.

Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be in a form suitable for rectal administration wherein the carrier is a solid. It is preferable that the mixture forms unit dose suppositories. Suitable carriers include cocoa butter and other materials commonly used in the art. The suppositories may be conveniently formed by first admixing the composition with the softened or melted carrier(s) followed by chilling and shaping in moulds.

In addition to the aforementioned carrier ingredients, the pharmaceutical formulations described above may include, as appropriate, one or more additional carrier ingredients such as diluents, buffers, flavoring agents, binders, surface-active agents, thickeners, lubricants, preservatives (including anti-oxidants) and the like. Furthermore, other adjuvants can be included to render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. Compositions containing a compound described by Formula I or Formula II, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, may also be prepared in powder or liquid concentrate form.

Experimental Protocols

Assessing the Activity of Selected Compounds to Inhibit NR1A/2B NMDA Receptor Activation (FLIPR Assay)

The activity of selected compounds to inhibit NR1A/2B NMDA receptor activation measured as NR1A/2B receptor-mediated Ca²⁺ influx is assessed by the following procedure:

NR1A/2B receptor transfected L(tk) cells are plated in 96-well format at 3×10⁶ cells per plate and grown for one—two days in normal growth media (Dulbeccos MEM with Na pyruvate, 4500 mgglucose, pen/strep, glutamine, 10% FCS and 0.5 mg/ml geneticin). NR1A/2B-expression in these cells is induced by the addition of 4 nM dexamethasone in the presence of 500 μM ketamine for 16-24 hours. After receptor induction cells are washed using a Labsystem Cellwasher two times with assay buffer (Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS-Mg⁺⁺ free) containing 20 mM HEPES, 0.1% BSA, 2 mM CaCl₂ and 250 μM probenecid). The cells of each 96 well cell plate are loaded with the Ca⁺⁺ sensitive dye Fluo-3 (Molecular Probes, Inc.) at 4 μM in assay buffer containing 0.5% FBS, and 0.04% pluronic F-127 (Molecular Probes, Inc.) for 1 h at 37° C. avoiding light. The cells are then washed with the Cellwasher four times with assay buffer leaving them in 100 μl buffer. Test compounds in solution are pipetted by FLIPR (Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader) into each test well for a 2 min pretreatment. During this time the fluorescence intensity is recorded (excitation at 488 nm and emission at 530 nm). The glutamate/glycine 50 μL agonist solution (final concentration 1 μM/1 μM) is then added by FLIPR into each well already containing 150 μL of buffer (containing the test compound or vehicle) and the fluorescence is continuously monitored for 10 min. The endpoint fluorescence values are used to determine an IC₅₀ value comparing the agonist-stimulated signal for the vehicle alone sample and that for the cells incubated with each concentration of test compound.

Determining the Apparent Dissociation Constant (Ki) of Compounds for Human NR1A/NR2B Receptors (Binding Assay)

The radioligand binding assay is performed at room temperature in 96-well microtiter plates with a final assay volume of 1.0 mL in 20 mM Hepes buffer (pH 7.4) containing 150 mM NaCl. Solutions of test compounds were prepared in DMSO and serially diluted with DMSO to yield 20 μL of each of 10 solutions differing by 3-fold in concentration. Non-specific binding (NSB) using hot AMD-1 (10 μM final concentration) and total binding (TB) by using DMSO (2% final concentration). A solution of NR1A/NR2B receptors (40 pM final concentration) and tritiated AMD-2 (1 nM final concentration) were added to the test compounds. After 3 h of incubation at room temperature, samples are filtered through Packard GF/B filters (presoaked in 0.05% PEI, polyethyleninine Sigma P-3143) and washed 10 times with 1 mL of cold 20 mM Hepes buffer per wash. After vacuum drying of the filter plates, 40 μL of Packard Microscint-20 was added and bound radioactivity determined in a Packard TopCount. The apparent dissociation constant (Ki), the maximum percentage inhibition (%I_(max)), the minimum percentage inhibition (%I_(min)) and the hill slope (nH) were determined by a non-linear least squares fitting the bound CPM data to Equation #1 below.

Equation#1: ${{CPM}\quad {Bound}} = {\frac{({SB})\left( {{\% \quad I_{\max}} - {\% \quad I_{\min}}} \right)}{\left( {1 + \left( {\lbrack{Drug}\rbrack/\left( {{{Ki}\left\lbrack {L - {844,345}} \right\rbrack}/K_{D}} \right)} \right)^{nH}} \right)} + {NSB} + {({SB})\left( {1 - {\% \quad I_{\max}}} \right)}}$

where, K_(D) is the apparent dissociation constant for the radioligand for the receptor as determined by hot saturation and SB is the specifically bound CPM determined from the difference of TB and NSB.

Compounds AMD-1 and AMD-2 can be synthesized in accordance with the following general reaction schemes.

In accordance with scheme 1, hydrogen chloride is bubbled through a solution of the appropriately substituted benzonitrile 1 in methanol at room temperature. The volatiles are removed under reduced pressure and the resulting residue is triturated with ether and filtered to yield the desired imidate 2. Imidate 2 is dissolved in met hanol at ambient temperature, treated with amine 3 at ambient temperature and stirred under argon. The volatiles are removed under reduced pressure and the residue purified by preparative HPLC or trituration with ether to afford amidine Ia.

In accordance with scheme 2, at room temperature under argon, amhine 3a is dissolved in ether and was treated with 1-M hydrogen chloride in ether (1 equiv.) in a single portion. The resulting precipitate is stirred vigorously for 10 minutes. The volatiles are removed under reduced pressure. The residue is suspended in toluene, cooled to 0° C. under argon, treated with 2.0-M trimethylaluaminum (1.05 equiv.) in a dropwise manner, and stirred for 45 minutes at room temperature to afford intermediate 6 (not isolated). Compound 6 is added to a solution of nitrile 1 in toluene. The reaction is heated to 80° C. without stirring in a sealed tube for 18 h , cooled to ambient temperature, poured onto a silica gel column and eluted with methanol/dichloromethane to give the amidine 4.

Tritiated AMD-1 was prepared by the following procedure: A mixture of AMD-1, hydrochloride salt, (5 mg, 0.012 mmol) in dioxane (0.2 mL) containing triethylamine (4 μL) was treated with hexamethylditin (5 μL), a catalytic amount of palladium catalyst and heated at 100° C. for 45 minutes. The reaction was cooled to room temperature, filtered through a glass wool plug, rinsed with methanol and concentrated in vacuo to give 10.7 mg of a brown oil. The oil was dissolved in methylene chloride and passed through a small silica column eluting with methylene chloride followed by 5% methanol/methylene chloride. Fractions containing the trimethylstannane (Rf 0.26 in 10% methanol/methylene chloride) were pooled and concentrated in vacuo to give 4.5 mg of the trimethylstannane as a clear colorless oil. This material was further purified by HPLC (C18 Econosil, 10×250 mm, 20 minute linear gradient, 30% MeCN:70% H₂O (0.1% TFA) to 90% MeCN, 3 mL/min, 254 nm, retention time 15 minutes) to give 3 mg of the trimethylstannane.

A Na¹²⁵I shipping vial (10 mCi, Amersham) was charged with a stir bar, an iodobead, 50 μL of methanol and stirred five minutes at room temperature. A solution of the trimethylstannane (0.1 mg) in 50 μL of methanol containing 5 μL of trifluoroacetic acid was added and the reaction was stirred for five minutes. The reaction was quenched with 50 μL of ammonium hydroxide and purified by HPLC (C18 Vydac protein and peptide column, 4.6×250 mm, 20 minute linear gradient, 30% MeCN:70% H₂O (0.1% TFA) to 90% MeCN, 1 mL/min, retention time 11 minutes). Fractions containing the radioactive product were pooled and concentrated in vacuo to give 989 μCi of [¹²⁵I]AMD-1 with a specific activity of 898 Ci/mmol as measured by UV absorbance at 272 nm.

Synthesis of Tritiated AMD-2

Tritiated AMD-2 was prepared by the following procedure: The phenol of AMD-2 (2 mg, 0.008 mmol) dissolved in dimethylformamide (0.6 mL) and potasium carbonate (1.2 mg) for 1 hr. High specific activity tritiated methyl iodide (50 mCi, 0.0006 mmol, in toluene 1 mL, American Radiolabeled Chemicals) was added at room temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered using a Whatman PTFE 0.45 μm syringeless filter device to remove any insoluable potassium carbonate, washed with Abs. ethanol (2 mL, Pharmco), and the combined filtrates were concentrated to dryness at room temperature using a rotary evaporator; this also removed any unreacted tritiated methyl iodide. The residue was purified by HPLC chromatography on a Phenomenx Luna C8 semi-prep column (Luna 5 micro C8(2), 250×10.0 mm) using a gradient system of 20/80 acetonitrile/water with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid to 100% acetronitrile with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in 20 min. Total activity of the product was 8 mCi. Further purification was effected by absorption onto a Waters C-18 Sep-pak column (Waters Sep-Pak PLUS C18) and elution with water followed by absolute ethanol. The product was diluted with absolute ethanol (10 mL) before submission forfinal analysis.

The compounds of this invention exhibit less than 50 μM in the FLIBR and binding assays. Thus, the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention have been found to exhibit biological activity as NMDA NR2B antagonists. Accordingly, another aspect of the invention is the treatment of pain, migraine, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke—maladies that are amenable to amelioration through inhibition of NMDA NR2B receptors—by the administration of an effective amount of the compounds of this invention.

The following examples are provided to more fully illustrate the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any manner.

EXAMPLES

Preparation of 5-benzyl-octahydroindoles

In one Example, 5-benzyl-octahydroindoles were prepared by Scheme 1 shown below:

In another Example, 6-benzyl-decahydroquinolines were prepared by Scheme 2 shown below:

In Schemes 1 and 2 above, in place of the 1-SEM-benzimnidole2-carboxaldehyde

any of the following aldehydes, ketones, or bromides can be used to prepare the compounds of this invention:

EXAMPLE 1

(Ex. 1A)

(Ex. 1B) 2-(5-cis-Benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole

Example 1 was prepared by the following procedure.

Step 1

1-(2-Trimethylsilylethoxymethyl)-1H-benzimidazole

A mixture of KH, from 7 g of 30% oil dispersion, and 5 g of benzimidazole in 100 mL of THF was stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for 18 h . To the stirred suspension was added 7 g of 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl chloride and the mixture kept at room temperature for 24 h , cooled in an ice bath, cautiously quenched with 50 mL of water, and extracted into ether. The combined ether extracts were dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. Low pressure chromatography over silica gel eluting with a gradient of 3:1 ethyl acetate:hexane to 100% ethyl acetate gave 9.5 g of 1-SEM-benzimidazole as a colorless oil.

Step 2

1-(2-Trimethylsilylethoxymethyl)-1H-benzimidazole-2-carbaldehyde

To a solution of 40 mmole of lithium diisopropylamide in 100 mL of THF cooled to −78° C. was added 5 g of 1-SEM-benzimidazole in 50 mL of THF. After 1.5 h at or below −70° C., the red solution was quenched by rapid addition of 6 mL of methyl formate. After warming to room temperature over 30 min, 50 mL of water and 200 mL of ethyl acetate were added. The organic layer was separated and dried over MgSO₄, then concentrated under reduced pressure to 5.3 g of a thick oil that solidified in the freezer.

Step 3

8-Benzylidene-1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decane

To a stirred solution of 20 g of 1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decan-8-one and 35 g of diethyl benzylphosphonate in 60 mL of 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone dried over 4 Åmol sieves was added 7 g of 60% NaH oil dispersion. The mixture was allowed to stir overnight, diluted with 500 mL of water and extracted with 3×100 mL of ether. Combined extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Chromatography over silica gel eluting with a gradient of 5:95 ethyl acetate:hexane to 1:3 ethyl acetate:hexane gave 28 g of olefin as a colorless oil.

Step 4

8-Benzyl-1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decane

A solution of 28 g of 8-benzylidene-1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decane and 1 g of 5% palladium on carbon in 250 mL of ethanol was allowed to stir overnight under 1 atm of hydrogen. The catalyst was filtered off and the solution concentrated to give 28 g of 8-benzyl-1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decane as an oil.

Step 5

4-Benzyl-cyclohexanone

A mixture of 28 g of 8-benzyl-1,4-dioxa-spiro[4.5]decane, 100 mL of water, 10 mL of methanol and 20 g of Amberlite® IR-120⁺ was heated to reflux for 5 h. After cooling, removal of solvents under reduced pressure gave 24 g of 4-benzyl-cyclohexanone as an oil.

Step 6

1-(4-Benzyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-pyrrolidine

A mixture of 5 g of 4-benzyl-cyclohexanone, 3.5 g of pyrrolidine, 500 mL of benzene and 10 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate was heated under a water separator apparatus for 48 h, removing the distillate periodically until there was about 50 mL remaining. The solution was cooled and concentrated to 8 g of an amber liquid. The NMR was consistent with complete conversion to the enamine.

Step 7

(5-Benzyl-2-oxo-cyclohexyl)-acetic acid ethyl ester

A solution of 8 g of the crude 1-(4-benzyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-pyrrolidine and 7 g of ethyl bromoacetate in 20 mL of dioxane was heated at reflux for 12 h, cooled and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with 10 mL of water and 10 mL of 10% sulfuric acid and extracted into 2×100 mL of ether. The combined extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Evaporative distillation at oven temperature 150-170° C. at 1 mm gave 8 g of (5-benzyl-2-oxo-cyclohexyl)-acetic acid ethyl ester as a thick oil.

Step 7

1,5-Dibenzyl-octahydro-indol-2-one

A mixture of 8 g of (5-benzyl-2-oxo-cyclohexyl)-acetic acid ethyl ester, 3.4 g of acetic acid, 3.75 g of benzylamine, 50 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and 7.7 g of sodium triacetoxyborohydride was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 100 mL chloroform and 40 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2×25 mL of chloroform and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexane gave 5 g of 1,5-dibenzyl-octahydro-indol-2-one.

Step 7

(±)-1,5-Dibenzyl-cis-octahydro-indole

To a stirred solution of 5 g of 1,5-dibenzyl-octahydro-indol-2-one in 50 mL of dry THF was added 2.5 mL of borane methyl sulfide. After stirring overnight, the mixture was heated to reflux for 1 h, cooled in an ice bath, and cautiously quenched with 50 mL of 6N HCl. After stirring and warming to room temperature for 2 h, the mixture was warmed to reflux for 2 h, cooled in an ice bath and the pH adjusted to 10 by addition of 10 N NaOH. The resulting mixture was extracted with 2×500 mL of chloroform and the extracts dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Chromatography using a gradient of 50% ethyl acetate in hexane, 100% ethyl acetate then 10% methanol in ethyl acetate gave first 3.25 g of (±)-cis-1,5-dibenzyl-cis-octahydro-indole as an oil, then in later fractions 1.15 g of (±)-trans-1,5-dibenzyl-cis-octahydro-indole as an oil

Step 8

(±)-cis-5-Benzyl-cis-octahydro-indole

A mixture of 0.65 g of (±)-cis-1,5-dibenzyl-cis-octahydro-indole and 0.5 g of 20% palladium hydroxide on carbon was shaken under 55 psi of hydrogen for 18 h. Filtration and concentration under reduced pressure gave 0.5 g of (±)-cis-5-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indole as an oil.

Step 9

2-(5-cis-Benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole

A mixture of 0.2 g of (±)-cis-5-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indole, 0.3 g of 1-(2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl)-1H-benzimidazole-2-carbaldehyde, 5 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and 0.35 g of sodium triacetoxyborohydride was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL chloroform and 10 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2×25 mL of chloroform and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude SEM ether was heated to reflux in 50 mL of ethanol containing 5 mL of 3N HCl for 2 h, cooled, concentrated and partitioned between 10 mL of saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and 3×25 mL of chloroform. The chloroform extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. Purification by chromatography eluting with 90:10 CHCl₃:MeOH gave 0.35 g of (±)-2-(5-cis-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole as a solid after trituration with ether-hexane.

Chromatography on a Chiralpak™ AD column eluting with a 70:30 mixture of 0.1% TFA in hexane and ethanol followed by conversion to the free base gave 0.1 5 g of 2-(5-cis-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimnidazole, enantiomer A:RT=4.22 min; MS (m+1)=346.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.4 (br, 1H), 7.75 (br, 1H), 7.5 (br, 1H), 7.25 (m, 7H), 4.2 (d, 1H), 3.6 (d, 1H), 3.2 (br, 1H), 2.5 (m, 2H), 2.35 (br s, 1H), 2.1-1.2 (complex, 11H).

Later fractions gave 2-(5-cis-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole, enantiomer B: RT=7.22 min; MS (m+1)=346.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.4 (br, 1H), 7.75 (br, 1H), 7.5 (br, 1H), 7.25 (m, 7H), 4.2 (d, 1H), 3.6 (d, 1H), 3.2 (br, 1H), 2.5 (m, 2H), 2.35 (br s, 1H), 2.1-1.2 (complex, 11H).

EXAMPLE 2

2-(5-trans-Benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole

Example 2 was prepared from (±)-trans-1,5-dibenzyl-cis-octahydro-indole following the procedures described for Example 1, Steps 8 and 9. This gave (±)-2-(5-trans-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole: RT=7.15 and 9.23 min on Chiralpak™ AD (70:30 0.1% TFA in hexane: 2-propanol); MS (m+1)=346.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 10 (br, 1H), 7.6 (br, 2H), 7.25 (m, 7H), 4.05 (s, 2H), 3.6 (m, 1H), 2.95 (m, 2H), 2.85 (m, 1H), 2.0-0.9 (complex, 11H).

EXAMPLE 3

(±)-5-cis-Benzyl-1-[3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole

Example 3 was prepared by the following procedure. A mixture of 0.30 g of (±)-cis-5-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indole, 0.8 g of 3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionaldehyde, 5 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and 0.5 g of sodium. triacetoxyborohydride was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL chloroform and 10 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2×25 mL of chloroform and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography eluting with 90:10:1 CHCl₃:MeOH:NH₄OH gave 0.25 g of (±)-5-benzyl-1-[3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-octahydro-indole as a resin. MS (m+1)=324.4; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.42 (s, 1H), 7.2 (m, 5H), 6.75 (s, 1H), 3.22 (dd, 1H), 3.05 (m, 1H), 2.9 (m, 1H), 2.8-1.2 (complex, 17 H).

EXAMPLE 4

4-[2-(5-Benzyl-octahydro-indol-1-yl)-ethoxy]-phenol

A mixture of 0.7 g of (±)-cis-5-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indole, 0.3 g of 1-(2-bromo-ethoxy)4-benzyloxybenzene, 10 mL of acetonitrile and 0.3 g of potassium carbonate was stirred at reflux for 24 h. The reaction mixture was cooled, concentrated, diluted with 50 mL chloroform and 10 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Hydrogenation at 1 atm over 0.2 g of 10% Pd/C in 50 mL of ethanol gave 0.12 g of (±)-4-[2-(5-cis-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-yl)-ethoxy]-phenol after purification by chromatography eluting with 90:10 CHCl₃:MeOH: MS (m+1)=352.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.3 (s, 5H), 7.2 (dd, 2H), 6.8 (dd, 2H), 4.0 (br t, 2H), 3.3, (br, 1H), 3.1 (br, 1H), 2.5-1.2 (13H).

Chromatography on a Chiralpak™ OJ column eluting with a gradient of 70:30 to 30:70 hexane and 2-propanol gave 4-[2-(5-cis-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-yl)-ethoxy]-phenol, enantiomer A: RT=11.3 min; MS (m+1)=352.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.3 (s, 5H), 7.2 (dd, 2H), 6.8 (dd, 2H), 4.0 (br t, 2H), 3.3, (br, 1H), 3.1 (br, 1H), 2.5-1.2 (13H).

Later fractions gave 4-[2-(5-cis-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-yl)-ethoxy]-phenol, enantiomer B: RT=13.2 min; MS (m+1)=352.3; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.3 (s, 5H), 7.2 (dd, 2H), 6.8 (dd, 2H), 4.0 (br t, 2H), 3.3, )br, 1H), 3.1 (br, 1H), 2.5-1.2 (13H).

EXAMPLE 5

5-Benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indole

Example 5 was prepared by the following procedure.

Step 1

5-Benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indol-2-one

Step 1 followed a procedure similar to that described above for 1,5-dibenzyl-octahydro-indol-2-one in Example 1, Step 6, but substituting histidine for benzylamine. After chromatography eluting with 90:10 CHCl₃:MeOH, 5-benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indol-2-one was obtained as a resin.

Step 2

5-Benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indole

In a manner similar to described for 1,5-dibenzyl-octahydro-indol-2-one above in Example 1, Step 7, but substituting 5-benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indol-2-one for 1,5-dibenzyl-octahydro-indol-2-one, gave 5-benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indole. MS (m+1)=310.4. Chromatography eluting with 90:10:1 CHCl₃:MeOH:NH4OH gave first (±)-5-cis-benzyl-1-[3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl] -cis-octahydro-indole:

MS (m+1)=310.4; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.4-7.1 (complex m, 6H), 6.8 (d, 1H), 3.4-0.9 (complex, 19 H).

Later fractions contained the minor isomer (±)-5-trans-benzyl-1-[3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-cis-octahydro-indole:

MS (m+1)=310.4; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.6 (s, 0.5H), 7.4 (s, 0.5H), 7.35-7.1 (complex m, 5H), 6.8 (m, 1H), 3.4-0.9 (comoplex, 19 H).

EXAMPLE 6

(±)-5-cis-Benzyl-1[3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole

Example 6 was prepared by the following procedure.

Step 1

3-(5-Chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester and 3-(2,5-dichloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester

Chlorination of 3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester using the procedure described in R. Jain, B. Avramovitch and L. A. Cohen, Tetrahedron, 54:3235-3242(1998) with N-chlorosuccinirnide in acetonitrile gave after chromatography on silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate; gave 3-(2,5-dichloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid acid methyl ester as a solid. Later fractions gave 3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester as a solid.

Step 2

3-[5-Chloro-3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-propionic acid methyl ester

A mixture of 0.40 g of 3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester, 0.5 mL of N,N-diisopropylethylamine, 15 mL of dichloromethane and 0.4 mL of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl chloride was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL chloroform and 10 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2×25 mL of chloroform and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography eluting with ethyl acetate gave 0.8 g of 3-[5-chloro-3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-propionic acid methyl ester as an oil.

Step 3

3-[5-Chloro-3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-propionaldehyde

To a solution of 0.20 g of 3-[5-chloro-3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol4-yl]-propionic acid methyl ester in 10 mL of toluene cooled to −75° C. under nitrogen was added 0.5 mL of 1.5 M diisobutylaluminum hydride. After 1 h at −75° C., the reaction was quenched with 0.2 mL of methanol, allowed to warm to room temperature over 30 min and partitioned between 1N sodium carbonate and ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude 3-[5-chloro-3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-propionaldehyde (0.2 g) was essentially homogeneous by TLC, eluting with ethyl acetate.

Step 4

(±)-5-cis-Benzyl-1[3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octabydro-indole

A mixture of 0.10 g of (±)-cis-5-benzyl-cis-octahydro-indole, 0.2 g of 3-[5-chloro-3-(2-trimethylsilanyl-ethoxymethyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-propionaldehyde, 5 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and 0.25 g of sodium triacetoxyborohydride was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL chloroform and 10 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2×25 mL of chloroform and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude SEM-protected 5-benzyl-1-[3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-octahydro-indole was deprotected by refluxing 2 h in 20 mL of ethanol and 2 mL of 6N HCl. The mixture was concentrated to dryness, partitioned between aqueous sodium carbonate and chloroform, and the combined chloroform extracts dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. Purification by chromatography eluting with 90:10:1 CHCl₃:MeOH:NH₄OH gave 0.1 5 g (±)-5-cis-benzyl-1[3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole: MS (m+1)=358.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 7.3-7.0 (m, 6H), 3.3 (dd, 1H), 2.95 (m, 2H), 2.55 (m, 3H), 2.4, 2.3, 2.25, 2.0, 1.85, 1.7, 1.7, 1.5, 1.1 (complex, 15 H).

EXAMPLE 7

(±)-5-cis-Benzyl-1[3-(2,5-dichloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole

Example 7 was prepared in a manner similar to the procedure described above for (±)-5-cis-benzyl-1[3-(5-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole, Example 6. Substituting 3-(2,5-dichloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester for 3-(2-chloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester in Step 2, gave (±)-5-cis-benzyl-1[3-(2,5-dichloro-3H-imidazol-4yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole: MS (m+2)=354.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 10.2 (br s, 1H), 7.3-7.0 (m, 5H), 3.25 (dd, 1H), 2.95 (m, 1H), 2.9 (m, 1H), 2.55 (m, 3H), 2.45, 2.3, 2.1, 2.0, 1.7-1.35, 1.1 (complex, 15 H).

EXAMPLE 8

1-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-decahydro-quinoline

Example 8 was prepared by the following procedure.

Step 1

3-(5-Benzyl-2-oxo-cyclohexyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester

A solution of 1 g of the crude 1-(4-benzyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-pyrrolidine and 1 mL of ethyl acrylate in 20 mL of dioxane was heated at reflux for 3 h, cooled and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was diluted with 10 mL of water and 10 mL of 10% sulfuric acid and extracted into 2×100 mL of ether. The combined extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Drying under vacuum gave 0.74 g of crude 3-(5-benzyl-2-oxo-cyclohexyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester as an oil.

Step 2

1-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-octahydro-quinolin-2-one

A mixture of 0.74 g of 3-(5-benzyl-2-oxo-cyclohexyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester, 0.572 g of 2-aminomethylbenzimidazole dihydrochloride, 10 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane, 0.40 g of sodium acetate and 0.74 g of sodium triacetoxyborohydride was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 100 mL chloroform and 40 mL saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 2×25 mL of chloroform and the combined organic layers dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography eluting with a gradient of ethyl acetate to 10% methanol in ethyl acetate gave 0.15 g of 1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-octahydro-quinolin-2-one.

Step 3

1-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-decahydro-quinoline

A stirred solution of 0.15 g of 1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-octahydro-quinolin-2-one in 20 mL of dry THF containing 0.1 g of lithium aluminum hydride was heated to reflux overnight, cooled in an ice bath, and quenched with 0.1 mL of 5N NaOH, then 1 mL of water. After stirring and warming to room temperature for 2 h, the mixture was filtered through a glass frit and the filtrate concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. Chromatography using 10% methanol in chloroform gave 1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-decahydro-quinoline in four bands.

Isomer A: MS (m+1)=360.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.2 (br, 1H), 7.6 (br, 1H), 7.5 (br, 1H), 7.25 (m, 7H), 4.2 (d, 1H), 3.4 (d, 1H), 2.7 (d, 1H), 2.6 (d, 2H), 2.2 (d, 1H), 2.05 (t, 1H), 1.8-1.1 (complex, 12H).

cis-1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-cis-benzyl-decahydro-quinoline Isomer B: MS (m+1)=360.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.8 (br, 1H), 7.6 (br, 2H), 7.25 (m, 7H), 4.3 (m, 1H), 4.0 (dd, 2H), 3.5 (dd, 1H), 2.45 (dd, 2H), 2.8-1.1 (complex, 13H).

Isomer C: MS (m+1)=360.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.8 (br, 1H), 7.6 (br, 2H), 7.25 (m, 7H), 4.1 (m, 1H), 4.0 (m, 1H), 2.8 (m, 1H), 2.6 (d, 2H), 2.5-1.1 (complex, 14H)

Isomer D: MS (m+1)=360.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 9.8 (br, 1H), 7.6 (br, 2H), 7.2 (m, 7H), 4.6 (m, 1H), 4.1 (m, 2H), 2.5 (d, 2H), 4.0-1.0 (complex, 14H). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₁₁ is 2-benzimidazole, 4-imidazole, 2-imidazopyridine, 2-indole, 2-quinazoline, or 4-phenol; each optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy; L₁₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₂-C₄alkenyl, C₂-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl; L₁₂-R₁₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X₁, wherein X₁ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkylester, —OCOOC₁-C₄alkyl, —NHCOOC₁-C₄alkyl, —OCONHC₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkylcarbonate, or C₁-C₄alkylether; or X₁ forms an oxo by substituting with an available second bond on the ring carbon.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R₁₁ is 2-benzimidazole, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy.
 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R₁₁ is 4-imidazole, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy.
 4. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R₁₁ is 4-phenol; optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy.
 5. The compound according to claim 1, comprising

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 6. The compound according to claim 1, which is: 2-(5-cis-Benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole; 2-(5-trans-Benzyl-cis-octahydro-indol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole; (±)-5-cis-Benzyl-1- [3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahiydro-indole; 4-[2-(5-Benzyl-octahydro-indol-1-yl)-ethoxy]-phenol; 5-Benzyl-1-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]-octahydro-indole; (±)-5-cis-Benzyl-1[3-(5-chloro-3H-imnidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole; or (±)-5cis-Benzyl-1[3-(2,5-dichloro-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-propyl]-cis-octahydro-indole.
 7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier and an effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 8. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7 useful for the treatment of pain.
 9. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7 useful for the treatment of migraine, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke.
 10. A method of treating pain comprising a step of administering to one in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 11. A method of treating migraine, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke comprising a step of administering to one in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 12. A compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₂₁ is 2-benzimidazole, 4-imidazole, 2-imidazopyridine, 2-indole, 2-quinazoline, or 4-phenol; each optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo,C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy; L₂₁ is C₁-C₄alkyl, C₂-C₄alkenyl, C₂-C₄alkynyl, C₁-C₄alkoxy, aminoC₁-C₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁-C₄alkyl, carbonyl, cycloC₃-C₆alkyl or aminocarbonyl; L₂₂-R₂₂ is phenylmethyl or phenylmethylaminocarbonyl, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo, or methyl; and optionally substituted at any of the 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7 positions independently with X2, wherein X₂ is hydroxy, amino C₁-C₄alkylamino, di(C₁-C₄)alkylamino, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkylester, —OCOOC₁-C₄alkyl, —NHCOOC₁-C₄alkyl, —OCONHC₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄alkylcarbonate, or C₁-C₄alkylether; or X₂ forms an oxo by substituting with an available second bond on the ring carbon.
 13. The compound according to claim 12, wherein R₂₁ is 2-benzimidazole, optionally substituted with one to five substituents, each substituent independently being chloro, fluoro, bromo,C₁-C₄alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, or carboxy.
 14. The compound according to claim 12, wherein said compound is 1-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-6-benzyl-decahydro-quinoline.
 15. The compound according to claim 12, comprising

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an inert carrier and an effective amount of a compound according to claim
 12. 17. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 useful for the treatment of pain.
 18. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16 useful for the treatment of migraine, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke.
 19. A method of treating pain comprising a step of administering to one in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim
 12. 20. A method of treating migraine, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke comprising a step of administering to one in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound according to claim
 12. 